In Hinduism

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram (shaivism)

Ūrdhvavaktra (ऊर्ध्ववक्त्र) refers to the “upper face” (of Svacchanda), according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult. Accordingly, “O goddess, Svacchanda is in the middle, within the abode of the triangle. Very powerful, he has five faces with three times five flaming eyes. [...] Īśāna is the upper face [i.e., ūrdhvavaktra]. Both supreme and inferior, its nature is creation. (White) like snow, jasmine and the moon, it is stainless like pure crystal. It nourishes the entire universe with its moon rays as it rains in a great torrent a stream of nectar-like (bliss). Contemplating Īśāna (in this way) one attains (all eight) yogic powers. [...]”.

Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

Ūrdhvavaktra (ऊर्ध्ववक्त्र) refers to the “upper face” of Sadāśiva, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 9.19cd-26, while instructing to visualize Sadāśiva in order to worship the formless Amṛteśa]—“[He] resembles the swelling moon, a heap of mountain snow. [...] [The Southern Sadāśiva] bears a skull rosary and makes the world tremble. [Sadāśiva's] Western [face] resembles snowy jasmine and the North as a beautiful red lotus. The face above (ūrdhvavaktra—pūrvavaktrataḥ ... ūrdhvavaktraṃ) the [other] Śiva [faces] resembles a crystal [i.e., colorless]. [...]”.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Ūrdhvavaktra (ऊर्ध्ववक्त्र) refers to the “upper face” (of Goddess Kubjikā), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “(Kubjikā’s) iconic form is threefold (according to whether it is) in (the transmission) of the Child, Middle One or the Aged. [...] The face of the goddess Parā is on top of the heads and shines auspiciously. It is white as milk, beautiful and shines like millions of moons. It exudes a current of nectar and is endowed with the eighteenth energy (of the Moon). The second one is the upper face [i.e., ūrdhvavaktra]. It is the Void called Mālinī. It is white and is venerated, part by part, by (both) the gods and demons. The third one is the eastern face. White, it is distraught with anger. Attended by Siddhas and Yoginīs, it is called Siddhayogeśvarī. [...]”.

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Ūrdhvavaktra (ऊर्ध्ववक्त्र).—(pl.) Name of a class of deities.

Derivable forms: ūrdhvavaktraḥ (ऊर्ध्ववक्त्रः).

Ūrdhvavaktra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms ūrdhva and vaktra (वक्त्र).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Ūrdhvavaktra (ऊर्ध्ववक्त्र):—[=ūrdhva-vaktra] [from ūrdhva] m. [plural] ‘having the face above’, Name of a class of deities, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]

[Sanskrit to German]

Urdhvavaktra in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Urdhva, Vaktra.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Urdhvavaktra, Urdhva-vaktra, Ūrdhva-vaktra, Ūrdhvavaktra; (plurals include: Urdhvavaktras, vaktras, Ūrdhvavaktras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

The Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)

Chapter 41 - Nativity of Brahmā < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]

Chapter 72 - Construction of Rudra’s chariot < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]

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